Sen. Kirk Watson, the lone Democrat on the committee, repeatedly questioned Cargill, albeit politely. Watson asked Cargill about a 2009 email she sent asking an applicant for a curriculum-writing committee whether the person was a conservative.

Cargill, R-The Woodlands, said she was trying to vet the applicant for expertise and issues important to her constituents. Pushed by Watson, Cargill said she has learned lessons and no longer asks that question.

“I can say there’s not a political litmus test for me in the future,” said Cargill, a former biology teacher.

Cargill said emphatically that she does not support teaching creationism or intelligent design in public schools, saying that can be taught at home or in church. Teachers, however, must follow the state’s standards that require teaching “all sides of scientific evidence,” she said. As an example, Cargill said students should learn about the fossil record and stasis when species go unchanged.

Kathy Miller, president of the Texas Freedom Network, a civil liberties group, said such fossil instruction can be a back-door attempt to introduce intelligent design in public school classrooms.

Cargill noted that she voted against a textbook company that referenced intelligent design.

On the slightly less controversial subject of standardized testing, Cargill said she would like to see the number of exams addressed, though the State Board doesn’t have authority over the issue.

The committee is expected to vote on Cargill’s nomination Monday afternoon or Tuesday.

Secretary of State John Steen’s nomination also is before the nominations committee. Steen, during his appearance, took a shot at former Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Don Sumners over the wrongful purging of dead voters from the rolls. Steen said Sumners sent the presumed-dead voters an “inartfully” written letter that did not follow the state’s prototype.